Slide fastener structure



Aug, 211., 1951 N. A. WAHL 25%,,742

SLIDE FASTENER STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 11, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR. J kV/OL as a6. Mi

Am. 23, 3951 N. A. WAHL SLIDE FASTENER STRUCTURE I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. War/0M5 a7. ml/L HTTOR/VEYS Patented Aug. 21, 1951 SLIDE FASTENER STRUCTURE Nicholas A. Wahl, New York, N. Y., assignor ,to I

Wahl Brothers, New York, N. Y., a partnership Application February 11, 1947, Serial No. 727,844

This invention relates to a slide fastener and more particularly to a flexible slide fastener which operates by means of an interiorly disposed slider.

In the construction of certain slide fasteners prior to this invention, the cooperating slider elements and the slider, operative to effecttheir closure or separation, appeared on the outer surface of the structure no matter whether the fastener was in the closed or open position. This lent an unattractive appearance to the article to which it was attached due to the unsightly gap between the slider elements, and it was necessary, in one form of such slide fasteners, to provide covering overlapping or abutting material to hide the fastener elements.

Other disclosures sought to overcome this defeet by constructing the fastener with an internal slider which was used in most cases in connec tion with shoes or overshoes since there was no great need for flexibility, as once the shoe was closed, it retained its normal position. Attempts were made to adapt this idea to rubber overshoes to obtain flexibility. Here, flexibility was obtained with an accompanying loss of retention of the slider within the grooves arranged in the rubber. Any pressure applied to the slider within its rubber groove tended to force said slider out of the elastic groove.

It is therefore one of the main objects of this invention to provide a slide fastener which has an interiorly disposed slider operating within encompassing flexible fastener elements.

- Another primary object of this invention is to provide a slide fastener structure which is substantially completely flexible in any direction; both longitudinally and laterally of the movement of the slider, whereby the fastener structure is adapted for application to any curved surface, even one of substantial sinuosity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slide fastener which may use fastener elements of comparatively large size and decorative quality. 4

Still another object of this invention is to'provide a fastener structure which is extremely flexible and yet is constructed of individual elements of non-flexible material which may be, for example, plastic, with the slider always in operative position to act upon the cooperating fastener elements even when the slider is under pressure, as by bending the lines of fastener elements in a considerable arc.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a slide fastener having fastener elements 20 Claims. (Cl. 24207) which may be used, for example, as a decorative, as wellas utilitarian feature for ladies handbags. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side 'elevational view of the slide fastener structure of my invention shown in closed relation; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 between fastener elements of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the slide fastener structure shown in Fig. 1 in the closed position; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the'slide fastener structure in a partially open position; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the partially open slide fastener structure taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the slide fastener structure similar to Fig. 3, showing the flexibility of said slide fastener structure; Fig. 7 'is a side and end view of one of the fastener elements; 'Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a slide fastener structure flexed to the form of an arc; Fig. 9 is a side elevational View of a straight top handbag showing the application thereto of the slide fastener structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a curved top handbag showing the application thereto of the slide fastener structure of Fig. 8;' Fig. 11 shows in perspective the handbag of Fig. 9 with the slide fastener in'the open posi tion; and Fig. 12 is avertical sectional view of a part of Fig. l. I V

Referring now to the drawing and in particularv to the slide fastener shown in Figs. 1, 2,

3, 4 and 5, this slide fastener comprises fastener elements I arranged in pairs, of semi-circular shape, and which may be made of any suitable fastener element, is a larger opening 3, having beveled edges 4 and a channel 5 extending from said opening 3 to the straight edge 6 of said semi-circular fastener element I. Below said opening 3 is located another drilled hole I having a downwardly extending channel I at the same,

distance below said opening 3 as aperture2is above said opening 3. The sides 8 of each fastener element I are deeply beveled, so that each fastener element I presents a slanting surface 9 to the one next to it. A stringer tape I0 is threaded through the upper aperture 2 ofa' series of fastener elements I much in the fashion of'strung'beads. When the last fastener el'ement I is reached, the stringer tape II! is looped back and through the parallel aperture 2 of the other half of the fastener elements which are also strung like beads, until the same number of semi-circular fastener elements I lie opposite each others flat sides 6. Knots or beaded clips II are tied at both ends of the stringer tape I to prevent said stringer tape ID from slipping through the apei'turesq'Z. In addition,- a holding string IZ may be tied around both stringer tapes II] to prevent the last paired fastener elements I3 or any others from separating when the slide fastener I is opened. This would'limit the size of the opening.

A slider tape I4 has paired beads I5 on its edge extending along the length of said slider tape I4 while the center of said slider tape 14 has a fiat surface I6. When the straight face portions 6 of the paired sections of said fastener elements I lie alongsideeach other, the slider tape --I4-is threaded through the paired series of fastener elements I so that the flat surface It of said slider tape I4 slides through the adjacent channels "5 while the beaded sections I5 slide through the beveled centrally located openings 3 of adjoining fastener elements I. At one end'of said'slider tape I4 is attached a pull tab I! having flared sides I8 which clamp the beads I5 of the slider tape I4. An eyelet I9 is situated centrally and near the curved edge of said pull tab II while a tassel H is attached to said pull tab I! by means of 'a loop 22 which loops through-said eyelet I9 and the eyelet 23 of said tassel 2I.

The other end of said slider tape I4 is looped around a pulley 24 having 'a centrally located hole 25 and is-sewed to or anchored between plies of a fastener cloth 26' which is attached to the-bottom of said fastener elements I by means of its beaded upper edge 21 which extends through the openings I and the channel IA of the paired fastener elements I. The terminal ends of said-clothare-also provided with beaded, clips IIA much in the same manner as are the ends of the stringer tape III to prevent longitudinal disengagement of the fastener elements I. A-pull tab 28 is looped through the opening 25 in the pulley 24.

Said fastener cloth 26 is used to attach said slide fastener to the handbag or similar article by stitching thereto.

Fig. 9 shows the slide fastener attached to a straight topped handbag 29 while Fig. 10 shows it .attached to a curved toppedhandbag 30.

. In arranging the slide fastener to fit the arc of the curved tophandbag 30, the fastener elements Imay be molded, for example, with the top portion 3I slightly wider than the bottom portion 32 with the side walls 33 and 34 converging slightly toward each other from the top toward .the bottom.

An important feature of my invention is the provision of the fastener elements with beveled sidesurfaces, so that they are slanting, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the spaces between contiguous elements in each series being widershaped, thus permitting substantial lateral and longitudinal flexibility, as illustrated in Figs. 6

and.8.

The operation of the structure is as follows: .When the handbag 23 or 30, for example, is to be opened, the pull tab 28 is pulled outwardly away from the handbag 29. The slider tape I4 is caused to pass around the pulley 24 while it is. -b eing drawn out of-the beveled opening 3 and the channel 5 which permits the separation of the paired fastener elements I from each other. As the slider tape I4 moves, it draws the pull-tab I I at the other end of said slider tape I4 through the channels 5 of the separating fastener elements I. The rounded diverging sides I8 of said pull-tab I! move through the beveled openings 3 of the paired fastener elements I, thus aiding "in separating the fastener elements from each other. 'The'holding string I 2, which may be situated between any adjoining fastener elements I, limits the opening movement of the pull-tab I1 and also prevents it from being pulled completely out of the slide fastener I. When the bag is to be closed, the tassel 2I is pulled in the opposite direction which causes the diverging sides I8 of the pull-tab I! to move through paired opposing fastener elements I and bring them together While the beads I5 of the slider tape I4 follow the path through the beveled openings 3 of said fastener elements I and the flat part I6 of said slider tape 14 slides within the channel 5 of said fastener elements I, thus holding the opposing fastener elements I together.

The top of the handbag 29 or 30 may be convoluted in any direction while opening or closing the bag due to the slanting side Walls 8 of each fastener element I.

As will be seen from the above description, the

invention discloses a slide fastener which has an interiorly disposed slider element operating within encompassing flexible fastener elements which may be constructed of non-flexible material such as plastic, for example.

' The novel-slanting surfaces of adjoining fastener elements enables the fastener to be flexed in any direction yet be sufficiently rigid to retain the slider tape within the openings provided in said fastener elements,

Due to the construction of the fastener elements, they may be of comparatively large size and thus be used, as a decorative feature, for example on ladies handbags, and have the utility of a hand grip.

While, in disclosing the principles of my invention and its preferred embodiment, I have described various detailed structure and relationship, it will be understood that such embodiment and details are given by way of example only and not as limiting the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A slide fastener structure comprising a plurality of elements arranged in pairs, means for retainingsaid pairs of elements in opposed longitudinal series, aslidable tape disposed interiorly of said opposed longitudinal series of fastenerelements, the side walls of said elements being beveled into a slanting surface adjacent to said slidable tape, and means for attaching said fas-- tener structure to an article.

2. A slide fastener structure as claimed in claim 1, in which the space between contiguous I claim 1, including a slider tape having beads at each-lateral edge thereof and a slider having diverging sides adapted to move through paired opposed fastener elements during operation of the fastener structure.

4. A laterally flexible slide fastener structure comprising a plurality of elements having curved side walls and arranged in pairs with portions of said curved side walls in abutting relation,

means forretaining said pairs of elements in opposed longitudinal series, a slidable tape disposed interiorly of said opposed longitudinal series of fastener elements, the side walls of said elements being beveled into a slanting surface, and means for attaching said fastener structure to an article.

5. A slide fastener structure as claimed in claim 4, in which the space above the abutting side walls of contiguous elements is wedge-shaped to permit lateral flexibility of the structure.

6. A slide fastener structure as claimed in claim 5, including a slider tape having beads at each lateral edge thereof and a slider having diverging sides adapted to move through paired opposed fastener elements during operation of the fastener structure.

7. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 1, in which beveled surfaced side walls of said fastener elements are adapted to pivot on each other when said slide fastener is flexed.

8. A slide fastener comprising a plurality of fastener elements arranged in pairs, said fastener elements having beveled side walls, each of said fastener elements having a plurality of apertures arranged in parallel alignment therethrough, means for threading a series of fastener elements together, extending through one of said apertures, a slidable tape adapted to slide within another of said apertures, means for attaching said slide fastener to an article, said attaching means having a bead adapted to fit within still another of said apertures, and means for pulling said slidable tape.

9. A slide fastener comprising a plurality of paired fastener elements strung in series, each of said fastener elements having a plurality of apertures arranged in parallel and extending lengthwise through said fastener elements, a beaded tape adapted to thread through one of said apertures, a slidable tape adapted to slide through opposing apertures of said paired fastener elements arranged in series alignment, means for pulling said slidable tape through said opposing apertures of said paired fastener elements, the side walls of said fastener elements being beveled into a slanting surface, means for attaching said paired fastener elements to an article, said attaching means having a bead thereon adapted to fit within another of said apertures, and means to limit the travel of said slidable tape.

10. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, in which one end of said slidable tape is aifixed to said attaching means, a pulley having a centrally located aperture therethrough, said tape pulling means being attached to said pulley, said slidable tape being looped around said pulley, a pull tab having flared sides, attached to the other end of said slidable tape, and said flared sides of said pull tab being adapted to slide within said opposing apertures of said paired fastener elements to separate said paired fastener elements.

11. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, in which said slidable tape has beaded edges, said beaded edges being adapted to fit within the centrally located opposing apertures of the paired fastener elements, whereby the opposing edges of said paired fastener elements are drawn together when said slidable tape is pulled therethrough.

12. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, in

which said slanting side walls of said fastener elements are adapted to pivot on each other when said slide fastener is flexed.

13. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, in which said paired fastener elements are the same width at top and bottom and are adapted to be applied to a straight-top opening.

14. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, m which said paired fastener elements are different in width at the top and bottom and are adapted to be applied to a curved-top opening.

15. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 9, in which said travel limiting means comprises a string tied around said beaded tapes between any two predetermined adjoining fastener elements and means for preventing said beaded tapes from pulling out of said apertures.

16. A slide fastener structure comprising a plurality of elements arranged in pairs, means for retaining said pairs of elements in opposed longitudinal series, a slidable tape disposed interiorly of said opposed longitudinal series of fastener elements, the side walls of said elements being beveled into a slanting surface, and means for attaching said fastener structure to an'article, said paired fastener elements being the same Width at top and bottom and. being adapted to fit a straight-top hand-bag.

17. A slide fastener structure comprising a plurality of elements arranged in pairs, means for retaining said pairs of elements in opposed longitudinal series, a slidable tape disposed interiorly of said opposed longitudinal series of fastener elements, the side walls of said' elements being beveled into a slanting surface, and means for attaching said fastener structure to an article, said paired fastener elements being different in the width at the top and bottom, and being adapted to fit a curved-top hand-bag.

18. A slide fastener comprising fastener elements, said fastener elements having apertures therein forming two parallel paths when the fastener is in the closed position, a slidable operating tape having parallel beaded edges adapted to fit into said parallel paths formed by the apertures, and a pull tab secured to one end of said operating tape and having diverging sides adapted to fit into said apertures, said sides being at their narrowest point a distance from one another equal to the distance between the beaded edges of said operating tape.

19. A slide fastener as claimed in claim 18 wherein the shape of the cross-section of the diverging sides of the pull tab is substantially the same as that of the cross-section of the beaded edges of said tape.

20. A slide fastener as set forth in claim 4 wherein said elements are different in width at the top and bottom and are adapted to be applied to a curved top opening of an article.

NICHOLAS A. WAI-IL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 791,332 Duval May 30, 1905 800,183 Stevens Sept. 26, 1905 1,190,882 Fesler July 11, 1916 1,220,602 Campbell et al Man-27, 1917 1,734,479 Glidden Nov. 5, 1929 1,773,747 Nebhut Aug. 26, 1930 

